Lionel Messi to Unveil 70-Foot Statue in Kolkata During Grand December 13 Visit

Kolkata is preparing for one of its most anticipated sporting moments as Lionel Messi gears up to visit the city on December 13. The Argentine maestro, travelling alongside long-time teammate Luis Suárez and World Cup-winning midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, will arrive for a short but action-packed trip that has already electrified football fans across Bengal.

The highlight of Messi's itinerary will be the unveiling of a massive 70-foot statue of himself in Sribhumi - set to be the largest Messi statue in the world. Positioned beside the iconic clock tower, the towering structure has been crafted using advanced fibre technology by sculptor Monty Pal and a team of 30 artisans.

Completed in record time, the statue is expected to draw huge crowds and

could even make its way into the Guinness Book of World Records, a possibility that State Minister Sujit Basu is keenly pursuing.

Messi's Kolkata visit, however, extends far beyond the statue ceremony. The Argentine superstar will attend a sponsor's event before heading to the Salt Lake Stadium (Yuva Bharati), where he will be the guest of honour for a showcase match between Mohun Bagan 'Messi' All Stars and Diamond Harbour 'Messi' All Stars. The match will offer local players a once-in-a-lifetime chance to share the field with the football legend's presence gracing the sidelines.

The itinerary also includes interactions with notable personalities such as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, former India captain Sourav Ganguly and tennis icon Leander Paes. As a gesture of cultural respect, Messi is expected to wear traditional Bengali attire during the formal reception. Meanwhile, his wife Antonella will be gifted an elegant sari. The couple will also be introduced to an array of Kolkata's culinary favourites, including hilsa, prawns, nolen gur rosogolla and mishti doi.

Anticipation continues to swell as fans from every corner of the city prepare to converge at Yuva Bharati and Sribhumi to welcome Messi with unmatched enthusiasm. With the unveiling of the monumental statue and a packed day of events, Messi's visit promises to leave Kolkata with memories as grand as the statue itself.